Calcium hydroxycitrate

Mineral

What is it

Calcium hydroxycitrate is the calcium salt of hydroxycitric acid (HCA), the active component of Garcinia cambogia fruit rind. It is marketed for appetite control and weight loss.

Evidence for 1 use

AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.

Weight loss

Mixed Evidence

Small and inconsistent effects in trials; clinical relevance is limited. Many positive studies are small or industry-funded.

How it works

HCA inhibits ATP citrate lyase, the enzyme that converts citrate to acetyl-CoA for fatty acid synthesis. In theory, this reduces de novo lipogenesis. Animal studies show effects on body fat; human trials are inconsistent. Meta-analyses suggest HCA produces small (~1 kg) weight loss over 8-12 weeks compared with placebo, with high variability and limited clinical significance.

Dosage

Trials use 1500-3000 mg/day of HCA (as calcium or potassium salts), typically 30-60 minutes before meals.

When and how to take it

Typically taken 30-60 minutes before meals.

2 commercial forms

Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.

Calcium HCA salt

Common Garcinia extract form.

Less soluble than potassium HCA.

Calcium/potassium combined HCA

Premium branded extracts (Super CitriMax).

Better solubility.

Safety

Generally well tolerated. Rare cases of hepatotoxicity have been reported with Garcinia cambogia products; causality is debated and may relate to other ingredients in multi-ingredient blends.

Who should be cautious

Liver disease: avoid due to hepatotoxicity case reports. Pregnancy and lactation: avoid. People on SSRIs or other serotonergic drugs: discuss with a clinician.

Interactions

Theoretical interactions with antidiabetic medications and statins. Possible serotonergic effects raise theoretical concerns with SSRIs.

Frequently asked questions

Does Garcinia really work for weight loss?⌄

Effects are small (typically <2 kg over 8-12 weeks) and inconsistent. Lifestyle interventions remain more reliable.

Is it safe for my liver?⌄

There are rare case reports of liver injury with Garcinia products. Avoid in liver disease.

References

Calcium hydroxycitrate on NIH DSLD (US supplement label database) — NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database link

Research on Calcium hydroxycitrate (PubMed search) — PubMed link

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Evidence-based·How we grade evidence

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.